Car Loads of Stories

Monkey May and I had to run into town after school for a doctor's appointment. My head is still spinning from trying to keep up with her conversation topic jumps. Let's see if you can keep up with her!

• "Momma, it's a white truck like Daddy!" Now there was a diesel truck but it was gray???
• "Momma, I'm hungry so I eat my baby's hat!" As she put her baby's hat in her mouth, chewed and has a very exaggerated yummmm!
• What do you want to eat for dinner Monkey? "Yellow." What? Yellow? How do you eat or even make yellow?
• "Momma, no more snow. It's icky dirty outside."
• "Ruger not nice. I'm the princess so you listen NOW!" Okay, I think we need to lay off the princess stories for a few nights.
• "Momma, the horse behind the gate is a frog Rib bit" What? If you can follow this one, you're doing better than me!
• "Momma, we go swimming in water tomorrow." No Monkey, you're going to play with Daddy tomorrow. "Oh, Daddy no swimming. Momma, I teach him! Yea!"

Welcome to a car ride with a Monkey May! Hope you got a good laugh and enjoyed the ride!

Hearts for You!

I don’t know what it is this year. It could be the cute hand-me-down Valentine’s outfits and the shirt I got Monkey on clearance the other day. It could be her little Car’s mailbox with Valentines and heart suckers in it for her to hand out on Monday at school. It could be the plain fact that I love my hubby with all my heart. Whatever the reason is this year, I am actually really looking forward to Valentine’s Day!

I have never been the biggest Valentine’s fan out there. I mean it is nice to go out for a nice dinner and have another special day besides Birthdays and our Anniversary to have some special hubby time. But we never go all out for Valentine’s Day. This year feels different though.

I have already planned our dinner. Penne Rustica (penne with bacon, shrimp, chicken, a few spices and lots of parmesan creaminess) and an insanely good looking new recipe I found for a Molten Chocolate Cheesecake with Raspberries. It sounds so good …. I have already accepted the fact that it is going to go right to my booty and that it will take the next 15 years to burn off the calories that just one insy-bitsy, ooey-gooey bite contain but I don’t care. I am going to live in denial and be completely oblivious of any and all numbers on Monday calorie or otherwise and enjoy every bite! I even have a strange urge to make chocolate dipped strawberries. Never made them before but I think I am going to take a culinary stab at it.

Since my house cleaning mission is going to be complete thanks to all of the stolen motivation that I sucked through the computer as you all read my blog, I am looking forward to just enjoying my evening. Maybe a nice bubble bath while the Monkey takes a nap a luxury that has been non-existent these past few year, a nice movie cuddling with my hubby on the couch, and light a few candles since I never take the time to enjoy their beauty.

I know there is a lot of planning going on out there by family starting couples this next week. I know that people are going crazy over potentially having a little one with the birthday of 11/11/11 because who can’t admit that that would be pretty cool. However, no one get there hopes up out there….that is by no means in the thoughts circulating in our household! So no one needs to mark their calendar to expect a “little announcement” to be made in 3 months. Just a little romantic hubby time is in order. So with that…I hope everyone is looking forward to Hearts Day. May Cupid turn an arrow your direction or re-hit you with the love arrow if you already have a special someone. And may all of your baby-making mojo be directed to a different home then mine!

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

Just Plain OLD!

I am turning into an old foogey!

Oh wait….this blog in no way depicts a bad connotation of those that are offended by the terminology of “old foogey.” This bloggerite isn’t responsible for anyone upset or hurt by feeling like they are classified as an “old foogey.” The implicated terminology of “old foogey” is limited to the aches and pains of the author and in no way is a medical description of the aforementioned word. Does that cover the disclaimer basis? If you don’t feel it does, then I would highly recommend not continuing to read the following blog.

I am turning into an old foogey!

Can you hear my screams? I mean, I no longer a spry, young teenager but I feel so OLD! I’m not talking that I don’t have the running speed I did in high school, or that my endurance isn’t at the same par. I mean my body is turning into an old foogey!

When I was pregnant with the Monkey, she decided it would be fun and I guess extremely comfortable to sleep in my back. Let me tell you, it was amazingly pleasant. You don’t believe me? Good because the tears that streamed my face every night as my soon-to-be-a-Daddy hubby rubbed my back while (I’m sure) wondering why we ever decided to get pregnant was more than enough to see how much pain the constant spasms up my spine took their toll on me by the end of the day. After the Monkey was about six months old, the spasms were not only not getting any better but were actually getting worse, I decided to go to the chiropractor. After one huge adjustment, there was so much relief that I felt like I was walking on clouds. Don’t get me wrong, we didn’t totally fix my back. The doc informed me that my lower spine had been twisted about 30 degrees and that it was going to take time for the muscles to heal from the constant pressures to protect my spine for the previous year and a half.

Slowly, I can feel my back getting stronger. The first time I worked out at all my back was so sore that I couldn’t even do half of a move. I am to the point now that my back is still tight but it doesn’t hurt…that is until Monday.

I don’t know what I did. To date, I have learned that where my back is concerned I can do nothing or something and my back decides to go to war with me. I woke up Monday morning and couldn’t even stand. My back hurt so bad I couldn’t put my jeans on without holding my breath, get in the Jeep without tears, and walking without looking like a 135 year old lady that can’t find her walker.

I have been in so much pain the last week, I finally decided I had to do something…anything. I haven’t worked out for a couple weeks, so I thought I would do the starter workout dvd. My back was definitely tight but by the end of 30 minutes, it was a good tight. I have worked out three days in a row and it is amazing how much better my back feels.

I know that I need to become more consistent with my workouts. I need to be more consistent to benefit my health. I need to be more consistent from an endurance and muscle strength aspect. But the main reason I need to be more consistent for my back…so I can actually walk and move without feeling like I am going to kill myself. I need to be more consistent so I can enjoy my last year and a half in my 20’s feeling like a 20 year old before I can no longer enjoy that luxury.

So I created a goal. I made a workout schedule that is 7 weeks long. In 3 weeks I go home for 5 days. I am hoping my back survives riding in the truck and standing on my feet all day the whole time I am there. At the end of 7 weeks, we are going on vacation. My goal….is for my back not to hurt once on vacation. I expect that I am going to be stiff and my back is going to be tight at the end of everyday but I don’t want to hurt at all. I have made it through three days, no tears in sight today…I wonder what 6 ½ weeks is going to bring! Maybe a peace treaty with my back is somewhere in the near future!

It's Hard Work to Think About It...

I have been having deep thoughts. I have been having conversations about real intense, profound, and intelligent kinds of stuff with myself. The kinds of conversations that are so important and necessary that nothing else gets done but that’s ok because you are solving the world’s problems. Intrigued? Want to be clued in on the genius I have been conjuring up?

I have been making the most amazingly detailed lists. Lists about cleaning. Lists about the areas of my house that still need spring cleaned. What? You really thought I gave up on finishing my mission? Come on…I may take on new tasks quite quickly but I haven’t given up on this one quite yet. I have come a long ways from two weeks ago when we’ve started.
Main bathroom …. Done.
Laundry room…. Check.
Dining room…Crossed off.
Entry way and breakfast nook…Complete.
But you already knew about that…if you didn’t come on…get up to speed already!

Since those missions have been successful, we have gone through the Monkey’s room. Uncle Micah’s room now has room to sleep, a dresser to put clothes in, half of a closet floor and hanging space (that is as good as it gets) and as Monkey likes to demonstrate, room to do a little dance. We tackled the living room which now looks amazing. Christmas decorations are down for the year…that was sad. I love the way Christmas decorations make a house look. Monkey’s toy bins are once again full of toys versus the carpet toy bin that seemed to take over the two rooms. I even found room for my sewing table to move to the rooms with some of my favorite decorations on them. It fits in perfectly. I never thought to put it against the wall facing the fire place. I never thought it would actually work and I am so proud of my decorator’s brain. OH, OH… my new “curtain” for the porch door…so brilliant! I might just have to post a picture of that one.

See I worked really hard last week. Then the thinkin’ began. I’ve been processing the rest of the house. I have been working my brain overtime it’s ok I haven’t gotten any further. The areas that are done have stayed amazingly organized. That counts as hardcore cleaning for a week. Doesn’t it? I have progressed through my spring mission. Right? No. Not working on you either. Yeah, I know. I have dropped the ball this week. Procrastination monster took up residence in my cleaning bone. I am so close to being done … and I am just DONE! No more…I don’t want to finish. I have three rooms left! That’s it…our bedroom and bathroom, office and the kitchen. Three BIG rooms left. I know if I buckle down and just do it by Sunday I will be done.

I need a favor from everyone out there. I need you to send all of your motivation power to me for three days. I mean, come on. Who actually wants to be motivated over the weekend? It’s just three days…you can spare that. Is the sweet talking not working? Guilt always does it then… here we go: Didn’t your Momma teach you to share? Don’t you want me to accomplish my goal? Don’t you want to feel good knowing you helped me accomplish my spring cleaning before you have even started? It’s working isn’t it?

If nothing else, I can make you so tired you have no option but to give me your motivation. Here it goes: after I finish those three really big rooms, I still have to clean the breezeway, the shop, the horse trailer, all of my tack, touch up the cars, the outside of the house, the horse lot, the dog kennel, the pigeon and chicken coops, the….

Tea Time Anyone?

My little tomboy is getting girly on us. She got a tea party set for her birthday and she is in seventh heaven. She loves handing us plates with plastic cupcakes and feeding us with her play spoons. She loves pouring tea from her little teapot into cups for us to drink tea with her. We haven’t gotten to the point of everyone sitting at a table having tea time quite yet, but I know it is going to be one day soon. I can just imagine the Monkey and her baby, bear and doggie sitting at a table. You know what I’m talking about…the little tea parties you see on t.v. In a fancy dress with all of her play jewelry and tiara headband on, pouring tea to her friends and acting all old school proper. It makes me laugh just thinking about it.

I have never been a big tea drinker. I love my Great-Grandma’s tea. You sun brew tea outside in the summer and once it is done you add about two cups of sugar. That is the best tea there is! The hubby likes lemon green tea. Can we say absolutely disgusting… and this is from the girl that loves anything lemon. I never have been a hot tea person one bit.

Lately with the cold weather, I have been craving something warm to drink. Much over two cups coffee, gives me the jitters the rest of the day. I can’t drink decaf, it just doesn’t work for me so coffee is out. I love hot chocolate. That’s my favorite winter time drink. But, with watching what I drink, hot chocolate and my booty are too good of friends. Until I can convince said booty to become a little less clingy and needy to be hot chocolate’s best friend, that option is out too.

I came across some Lipton flavored green teas. I am very reserved about green tea. I just don’t seem to like it. I must not have a delicate enough palette for it or I don’t think I’m sophisticated enough to be a tea drinker. It smelled really good though, so I decided to get a box of mixed berry and give it a try. And the verdict is in….I like it. I’m not in love with it yet, but I actually want to drink it. I think it is going to take some time to really develop a taste for it but it isn’t bad. Plus it is warm which was the whole mission to begin with. I do have to let the tea bag sit in the hot water the whole time I am working on the cup to get more flavor into my tea and I have to try really hard to keep myself from putting sugar in it, but I’m trying to be healthy.

I am looking forward to going grocery shopping tomorrow and picking up a few more flavors to have a little variety in my days. Maybe peach…I love peach. Blueberry? Sounds potential good. Orange passionfruit sounds intriguing. We will see what mood I’m in tomorrow. I think I might be able to acquire a taste for it. There may actually be real tea time around our house soon. Now where can I find me a tiara headband at?