Suprise!

The kids "decorated" the yard while I was napping as a suprise for me.
Yeah, They toilet papered my yard.

Awesome.

All I could think was "Man, those are expensive "mummy wraps" that are now hanging from my tree".


I quit.

I Like Mornings.... But Not All Neighbors

I do not appreciate being woken up by the next door neighbors' teenage son's FRIEND laying on his horn at the butt crack of dawn to signal him to come to the truck.

That is not cool.

The grumpy empty nesting neighbors across the street offered to take my yard waste to the dump. That was nice of them. I know they only offered because to them my house and yard is an eye sore for their "Better Homes and Gardens" attitudes. They don't like anyone but themselves, That's OK with me cause I don't like them either ;).  Especially when they garden outside in their swimwear. They are not speedo worthy people....just saying. There is just something about excessive back fat that detracts from their beautiful gardens and magazine worthy birdhouse displays.

I have always wanted those neighbors that you could invite over for coffee and just hang out in the mornings after the kids are in school. But I'm mostly never outside anymore. ::Audible Gasp::   Idea! This week I will spend 20 min a day outside in my neighborhood and report my findings. We will call this neighbor spy 2012. Lets see if anything comes of this. ;)
I had GREAT neighbors in Leavenworth. I miss them terribly. I am so small town oriented that I miss when people dont call me by my first name in the grocery store. (Well actually it was usually "Boston or Luke's Mom.")
Alrighty....Adventure Awaits Me! ( Im going outside!)

Gah!!

Who sweats while doing laundry? I mean really?
Granted I'm putting on a Broadway style performance in my living room of Green Day's "Holiday". But no, I should not sweat like a pig whilst doing it.
I blame sock folding...apparently its cardio in disguise. Stupid socks.

10 for you!

1. I love sugar cookies. Thickly iced ones are my favorite. mmmmmm.....cookies.
2. My dog is awesome......except for the not awesome destroying of everything that he does. That dog can destroy any object that you put in front of him in less than 5 minutes. I promise! At least he's cute.
3. I just found a note card that says "Boston is a huge nut ball". I'm guessing Natalie is doing creative writing ;)
4. I'm Las Vegas bound here in 2 weeks! I'm a wee bit excited! Cirque!!!!
5. If I purchase bubble bath, I will then use said bubble bath everyday until it is gone. I love it.
6. I went and took my sister to see the Thunder from Down Under. (Sweet Australian goodness that it the mostly naked fireman, cowboy, and gangster......drool..... Sorry ;) ) It was awesome, as were the jello shots and margarita that I had before the show even started. Just like the water I was drinking. ;)  I had bought tickets for my mom too (for her birthday....favorite daughter here!) She loved it, She bought 10 jello shots that we thought that she was going to share....nope, all for her ;)  That's my blood y'all.
7. October is here and I live for it! It's getting cooler out and it is officially hot chocolate and apple pie weather. Snuggling and soup are necessities that are absolutely required in my household. As are warm blankets and Halloween movies!
8. Luke tried to leave for school this morning wearing his pajamas under his clothes.....apparently I wasn't supposed to notice. Sorry kid, Lazy doesn't work for me.
9. Magic Mike comes out on DVD this month...It will be mine.
10. I made some major vintage scores at the Goodwill! I got a new milk glass lamp AND a 1950's fan!

My newest feature just for you!!!
        Alicia's Eclectic Playlist.

• With You Chris Brown
• Thunderstruck AC/DC
• Time To Say Goodbye  Sarah Brightman/Andrea Bocelli
• Supermodel  RuPaul
• Kiss This  Aaron Tippin

Yes, these are actually off my mp3 player. It gets weirder, stay tuned. ;)

Back to School

They were happy to go back. At least they tell me they were. I miss seeing them in the mornings already. Mama is having baby withdrawls. We are getting things situated for the most part and I really am starting to feel settled in here in this house.

James gave me a computer! I can blog on a regular basis again! That is a DARN good feeling. The man is good to me.

We went on a mini vacation up to Vancouver, BC for a long weekend. It was nice to get to explore someplace new with someone with someone who cares about me for me. I faced one of my biggest fears, Heights. We went to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. It scared the crap out of me. I'm happy I did it, It makes me feel stronger and braver for even the attempt.

I built a new Chicken coop out of the kids' old little tikes playhouse. I'm pretty happy with the way that it turned out and so are the chickens (Matilda and Jane).  I miss having more time for my animals but it is definitely in the plan for my future. Chickens, a few ducks, and pugs ;).  Im still waiting for my girls to start laying eggs. Its been forever it seems and I'd really like to start seeing some reward for feeding them!!!

We went swimming with Brooke, Brian and Kiddos this weekend and that was a much needed social outing for me. I have some of the best most supportive friends on the planet. I am one lucky girl!  

I can see clearly now.......

I got my clear contacts today. No more glasses or brown eyed lenses. I get to go back to my beautiful blue eyes as my boyfriend tells me.
I spent a little time today just being a girl. Went and purchased MY favorite perfume and loving it! I missed wearing it (Ralph Lauren's "Romance" for those interested) all the time. To me that is what I smell like.
I took the kids swimming at Auntie Jill's pool and they all loved that. I loved it cause they are all asleep now from being worn out! All 3 are sleeping downstairs all snuggled up on the floor having a "sleepover". They want to go back tomorrow. I think that we just might do it. ;)

Makes me smile just looking at it.....

Some people make me incredibly happy.

Jimmy is one of those people.

Its simple really..............

Who knew that a 10lb bag of flour and a 20 oz bottle of baby oil would create hours of entertainment for my 3 kiddos.

They played in the Cloud Dough forever.....we added some army men, dishes, and spoons.

 They didnt really even seem to mind that the container wasnt that big. (note to self: buy bigger container with a lid!)

 After they played with that forever I let them take a "space bath" (read: water with glowsticks and the lights off) They LOVED that too.

 It was a really great evening, one of the best that Ive had with just them in a long long time.

Things are looking up. ;)

Bonding time......Raw

Well, This is how I bond with my babies on monday nights...........

We watch monday night RAW

Its fun ;)

We love it. We can talk about it and the kids love to cheer on their favorite wrestlers! I look forward to monday nights just because I get time with them and time to do what I really like. Blessings abound!

What I've been up too...

 Well we added a rock to the fish tank to make Patrick's House and complete the scene in the aquarium.

 Sophie is a fan. She will sit on top of the tank and lean over and stare at the fish.

 For my 31st birthday, James took me to see the Green Day musical at the Paramount in Seattle. I loved it! Best musical I have seen so far (and I've seen alot of musicals!)

 Lucas graduated from kindergarten! I can't believe that my "baby" is this old! Man I am pasty. I need a tan.

 If you tell your sister you have a bloody nose, she WILL fix it for you. Natalie used a knuckle bandage on lukes nose and he FREAKED out when it was time to take it off. I had to tell my daughter that bandaids really dont cure all. IT was funny though to see him with an entire nose bandage for a small scratch.

My bathroom downstairs has a leak. I didnt realize it until today. It coming from the ceiling and it has managed to mold my moulding . THAT is gross. Now Im debating on what to do with that room since it is also my laundry room. Im thinking i'm going to have to rip out the cheap-o shower thats down there and see what i can make do from there. I'm all for demolition, its the re-assembly that i have a hard time with. This homeowner stuff is not easy.

Hi Jimmy.
I love you.

just thinking

So Im trying to put the little chunks of my life back together again and I have to stop and think "What am I trying to create here?" Stability? Im just not sure at the moment. Kids are doing pretty good considering all the changes that have been going on. They seem to be emotionally holding up better than I do per say. Part of me craves that normal life and the other part is just dying for the changes that are presenting themselves almost daily. Hmmm...Im in need of a mind clearing day. I might have to take one soon.  The 8-5 M-F is probably not going to suit me forever.

and exhale......

My Mother's Day Fiasco....
Boston's mothers day card to me says "Mom, you are the best cooker in the world. Like every good woman should be".

And he's 7.

I quit.

The little things that you take for granted.

Shoes.
The ability to wear athletic shoes/no shoes at all whenever you want. Thats one major thing i really miss about being a stay at home mom. I type this as I am sitting here at my desk in heels, dreading having to walk down the stairs again. Knowing that under these shoes I have bright pink toenails all ready for summer is a blessing and I am sooooo looking forrward to letting them see daylight.

Adding a little color to our lives...

We went and picked out paint colors for their rooms today. I will pick up the paint for them on monday, so that gives me most of the day tomorrow to work on my living room, kitchen, and dining room areas.
Boston picked a super dark teal, Natalie a classic little girl lavender, and Lucas settled for a dark navy after i argued for a bit that Black was not an option. He's 6 for goodness sake, he does not need a black room.

I am officially starting the "we" to "me" process.
Todays accomplishments brought a smile to my face.
I managed to prep my former accent wall for paint tomorrow, and then i took apart my filthy oven (courtesy of my former renters) and scrubbed it down and actually repaired the handle on it. I am proud of me!
I did get a little spackle happy and tomorrow in the daylight i will actually take a before picture of my wall before I paint it. I've never been excited to do home repair before, but strangely it feels like im repairing a bit of my soul thats been banged up and damaged, Alot like my house. I think I'm going to like this process..

Who knew....

Life changes without warning sometimes. Mine sure did. Its hard now but....I Imagine that it will get much much easier with time.

My 10 year marriage has dissolved.
I've moved back to my hometown.
I now work full time outside the home, something I havent done much of in a long long time. It feels as if several doors are closing and a few select windows have opened wide. Im finally getting used to the idea of "me" not attatched to Tom. In fact....I'm dating.  ::Gasp::  I know, I know.....but its not what you think. No rebound here. I'm not that kind of girl. In fact, I REALLY like this guy. We can laugh and enjoy eachother, dream together, and talk of future plans. It also helps that we have a mutual love of bacon ;). I get to be "ME" for the first time in a long long time. Enjoy the things that I like to do and love who and what I want without being criticized by myself for loving something different that what other people do.  I can honestly say that I finally love me enough to care about what I want out of life for myself and my children.
Ive still got a couple of chickens, a cat, a dog, and a few unwanted fish.....not to mention shared custody of the 3 most wonderful little munchkins on the planet. I split the time with their father half and half. We both refuse to be greedy on this situation which is really really great.  In the end I would like to maintain a decent relationship with the father of my children. Its what everyone deserves.