Wednesday Night

I have to rant for just a second, if you don't want to read it.. then skip to the next paragraph. So, last night we went to Wendy's for supper. We had a few errands to run so we just ran through the drive through. No big deal, or so I thought. Everytime I go to the Wendys near my house they screw up my order. Now seriously people, I worked at Burger King when I was in HS and it is seriously not that diffucult. D always says, then why do you keep going back. Giving them the benfit of the doubt I suppose. I can't imagine why, just one time, just one freakin time they couldn't get my order right. So last night I order a junior bacon cheeseburger.. all it is is mayo, lettuce, tomato, bacon, cheese and burger.. not so hard. Know what I get? a hamburger with only ketchup! Only ketchup! I was so annoyed. I am not one of those people who complain about stuff like this.. becuase I of all people know that people make mistakes.. but seriously how hard is this! I don't even like ketchup, but ate it because I was hungary and annoyed.. not a good combination.

On a lighter note when we got home from our crappy meal we watched Lemoney Snicket; a Series of Unforrunate Events I was very impressed. I throughly enjoyed the movie. It was a little dark and drab but right up my alley.. (and it didn't make me cry at all) There was a point where the snake jumped out and I thought that Riley was going to jump right off my lap.. then I was a little concerned that he may have nightmares but all went well with bed last night. It was the first time in a long time that we all set down as a family and watched a movie together. I will also mention that since Olivia had already seen it she kept trying to tell us what happed the whole time.. like mother like daughter!

Clutzy

I am so super clutzy.. in fact after this happened olivia actually looked at me and said "you might be more clutzy then I am" great.. what a day when your 6 year old is telling you how much of a doof you are.
So I was painting the hallway on Sunday morning. A really great shade of tan.. I am so excited to see what it looks like when it is finished. So I was standing on a chair when I lost my balance. Stepped down into the entire FULL container of paint. Spilled the paint all over the plastic, flung it onto the walls, door and everything else is site.. Plus I was then standing barefoot in about two inches on paint covered in it clear up to my shins.. It was quite the scene. The kids and dogs all came running at the sound of my fall.. I suppose I should just be happy that I didn't sit in it..

WARNING: Poop story

I had to post the warning, because those of you faint at smell, or without kids could never truly appriciate the value of this story. Riley, who has been taking this whole potty training thing fairly well had a slightly bad run in with the potty chair the other day. he was in the living room sitting on the potty, as usual, when he started yelling for me. Iwas cooking dinner so it took me a few minutes to get to him. By the time I did there was poop everywhere. It seems that he was trying to wipe himself (with his shorts) so there was poop on his shorts, on his legs, arms, hands, on the potty chair, coffee table, wall and floor. It was horrible. I can usually handle things like this but this honestly made me gag. When I walked in, though he was so so cute..he held up his potty chair and said "look mom I pooped in the potty!".. he was so proud that I couldn't correct him so I just set about the task of cleaning it all up.. oh what we go through for our children.

crying fool

I have completely discovered that I am the biggest cry baby in the world.. yes me.. super tough soccer mom me.. Last night the kids were watching Homeward Bound (you know the movie about the dogs and cat who talk and have to go cross country to get their family back). I ask them to turn the movie off, but they liked it. BY the end I was completely and udderly sobbing, in tears (real tears) sobbing. I hate sad movies... maybe that is why I watch horror movies more because I hate to cry at moveis like that. Olivia said to me "mom that was not even that sad, they all lived happily ever after" that made me cry harder.. I am such a nerd.

Crazy Robin

On Monday, Memorial Day, the kids and I went to my moms for a cook out. They love going to Nans, so I thought it would be a nice time. So after we ate we walked down to the park for some play time and ice cream.. (YUM).. on the way back we stopped over at my cousins house so the kids could see their cousins. We were all out in the yard when we noticed this mother bird chirping etc. I ask my cousins husband what all the fuss was about. There was a bird nest with babies in the bush by their swing set. So when he walked over to it and pulled the bush apart the baby birds came flying out... onto the ground, where they didnt move... but the mother did. She immediately flew towards us chirping the entire way. She dive bombed us about 10 more times until we decided to hit the road. It could have been the funniest thing I have ever seen. He was standing there trying to hit the bird with his hat, but she was too fast and swaking.. I was laughing so hard I thought I was going to pee my pants. So here's my apology for an earlier post where I was making fun of people being attacked by crows.. But its funny.. I don't care who you are thats funny... LOL

Blogslacker?

I have completely been a blogslacker lately... and no that isn't a word, and yes I did make it up. This week has been completely crazy to say the least. Work has been going so super well, I am in the process of writing my first lease proposal which will hopefully lead to getting my first deal done.. (knock on wood) which is so way beyond exciting.

Last night was soccer, four kids showed up so it was nice to have thr dooridnator scrimage with us, he always knows a ton of ways to teach the kids..

Hailey went with her dad to the World of Outlaws race last night at Williams Grove Speedway and she had the time of her life.. She got to meet a ton of drivers and even get her shirt and a ton of other things signed by them. She loves the races. They didn't get home until after 1 am and she was still awake and was still bouncing off the walls. She never ceases to amaze me. All she could talk about was this car driven by Danny Lasowski that was completely decked out from the movie Madagascar. She completely was infatuated with it.. It was really cute.

So today D took Livi down to see the car and meet Danny Lasowski. (everytime I say that all I can think of is Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc.. wonder if there is any relation - LOL) So now she has a mask of a monkey with his signature on it.. very cool for her. she was excited.

I don't look for the weekend to be to eventful. The Artfest is going on in Harrisburg so I suppose that we will wonder over there tomorrow. There is always good music, crafts and tons of food.. which is what I really go for. I also plan on doing some much needed flea market shopping too.. (I heart flea markets).. Hopefully the weather holds out for me.

Crazy Days

This weekend was extremly busy and equally as crazy.
Friday night we stayed home and watched the Muppets Wizard of Oz with kermit, miss piggy and the whole gang. Ashanti played Dorothy. It was really good.. definitely a must see for Families everywhere. The kids really liked it and didn't even fall asleep until it was almost over.

Saturday morning we had a soocer game (which we lost miserably) but the kids are having fun and thats all that matters, right? (hope so) Saturday afternoon Livi had a birthday party, so we got some yard and house work done. Saturday night was the Lemoyne Carnival... marking the 100 year anniversary of our town. The Patriot News has a nice article about a gentleman who has been living here forever. If you can imagine that.
The carnival was nice...small, but nice. The kids were super super excited because they got to ride the fire truck. The West Shore Bureau of Fire was giving out fire truck rides. The kids absolutely loved it. Riley was so so super happy when he got back. I could see him smiling the whole way down the street.

Sunday we just got the rest of the yard work finished and did some MAJOR and much needed spring cleaning inside the house. We were cleaning the girls room and I pulled out thier bed and noticed that someone had written HAILEY on the wall in black. I called in D who looked at it.
heres how the dialouge went:

"did you do that"

he says " I didn't, did you"

I say, "nope.. "

"well" he says, " that only leaves one other person in this house that can write"

We both look at Olivia... who immediately says "i didn't do it"

'well then" I say, "who did?"

"the bear did it!"

The bear? Although I do give her credit for quite a good excuse, she still got grounded for writing on the wall and lying. It seems that her favorite teddys bears nose when held against the wall, makes black marks, SO technically the bear did do it.. just not alone.

Sunday evening I watched two fantastic movies on TV. Star Wars Attack of the Clones and Resident Evil. ( I am quite a good channel flipper).... Both movies have now moved close to the top of my favorite movie lists. (so much for not being a star wars nerd)

On a lighter note I am trying to teach Riley to say his name is Monkey "danger" pratt.. and when people say "What did you say your middle name is" he can say "danger.... danger is my middle name... " It would be so cute...

Which celbrity IT girl are you?

You have gotta take this quiz... it is hilarious..

Which Celebrity IT girl are you?

Your Results: Hilary Duff!
You are Hilary. Well arn't you just the cutest thing on the block? Your style is cutesy fashion, and your attitude is definitly positive. You do have a problem with feeling the need to be sweet and cutesy all the time. That is gonna get old eventually. Come out and play. There is a big wild world for you to get lost in. Oh....leave the hag(your sister) at home!

Hilary Duff? Interesting...

Monkey?

Riley has begun to talk in the third person. I have been catching him saying things like 'Monkey needs a drinkey'... He already adds "ey" to almost everything he says and now with talking in the third person and calling himself Monkey is he turning out to be a pretty strange child. I know, I am the mother and its my fault. Not really.. I have always just wanted my kids to be who they are.. not trying to mold them into one thing or another. I do have to admit though its quite funny.

Soccer cry-babies

Maybe I shouldn't call them cry-babies I am sure that that is completely insensitive and demeaning of me. But honestly that is what they wer all acting like. Complete meanies and cry-babies. Soccer last night was one HUGE diaster after another. Kids were pushing, kicking, shoving, then crying.. there was lots and lots of crying and even two temper tantrums. I know they are 5 and 6 year olds so I don't expect miracles from them. In fact the temper tantrums didn't even bother me since my children seem to be the masters at those. What bothered me was the fighting. How can I possibly teach the concept of team work to these kids if all they want to do it fight each other for the ball. This is pretty much what a scene from last nights practice looked like:

One kid sitting in the corner of the field crying because he was kicked..
Another sitting on the other side pouting and crying because he was tired...
Olivia throwing a screaming fit on the side of the field.
Two kids drinking ALL the water out of the water cooler...

We also had trainer last night, which technically are just high school soccer players who help teach the basic skills to the players.
So two of the girls were chasing the one player around one was trying to pinch his butt (yes she was only 5) and one kept telling him he stunk.

It was complete and udder chaos.... I finally did this little yelling/freaking out thing that FINALLY made them all come and sit down. I then laid down the line and they seemed to understand and the last maybe 10 minutes I had it all under control.
I am sure that I looked like a complete moron to the parents, but I didn't exactly see any of them helping out, even with their own kids.

the end for geeks everywhere?

I just finished reading a post on Wil Wheaton's blog (how exciting is that?) about geeks. Yes, geeks. Basically there are people who are questioning whether or not this is the end of the 'geek' era.. so to speak. hmm.... now I have never been an ubber geek.. ever.. never really been a huge star wars fan, never played dungeons and dragons, and never "felt the sting of the dodgeball on my face" so to speak. But I have and still do continue to have friends who are. So I was completely fascinated when I read the article and post. The points are well taken. Star Wars is technically over, there is no more Star Trek and dungeons and dragons... well how many people actually still play that? BUT geeks will live on forever in today because of technology. Star Wars, Star trek, Lord of the Rings, although they have seemingly been lost forever are still readily available to all those geeks who tirelessly watch them over and over again. So I say that geeks will always rule regardless of how the world changes around them. And if you get the chance check out Wil's blog and Steven Lynch's NY Post article.

Potty day # 2

Well... today is Day 2o of Monkey Pratt (AKA Riley) wearing his I'm a Fire Cheif underwear without peeing them. it was like as soon as we put on underwear he got it.. It was like all theo ther efforts we had put into potty training were futile, because all he needed was underwear. So we will see how it goes.. hopefully this is just the beginning of really great, diaperless times!

best lyrics to describe everyday

"Long Day"
by: Matchbox 20
It's sitting by the overcoat, The second shelf, the note she wrote
That I can't bring myself to throw away
And also Reach she said for no one else but you,
Cuz you won't turn away
When someone else is gone

I'm sorry 'bout the attitude I need to give when I'm with you
But no one else would take this shit from me
And I'm so Terrified of no one else but me
I'm here all the time I won't go away
It's me, yeah I can't get myself to go away
It's me, and I can't get myself to go away
Oh God I shouldn't feel this way

Reach down your hand in your pocket
Pull out some hope for me
It's been a long day, always ain't that right
And no Lord your hand won't stop it
Just keep you trembling
It's been a long day, always ain't that right

Well I'm surprised that you'd believe
In any thing that comes from me
I didn't hear from you or from someone else
And you're so Set in life man, a pisser they're waiting
Too damn bad you get so far so fast
So what, so long
It's me, yeah and I can't get myself to go away
It's me, yeah and I can't get myself to go away
Oh God I shouldn't feel this way

Hostile birds?

Ok, ok... so maybe I shouldn't laugh because maybe there really are hostile birds out there in the world. angry, postal birds ready to lash at anyone. I do belive the article says it all .

Hostile Grackles Attack People in Houston

Shooting way to close to home

Something happened in our little town (ok, so it isn't that little) that completely unnerved me today. Heres the article from Pennlive.com

HIGHLAND TRAGEDY
Schools lock down after apparent murder-suicide
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
PETE SHELLEM AND FRANK COZZOLIOf The Patriot-News
A woman waiting to pick up her child at a West Shore elementary school was shot to death yesterday by her boyfriend after an argument in the parking lot, authorities said.
The man then apparently turned the gun on himself, authorities said.
Kim Keefer, 32, of Camp Hill, was shot several times in the lot outside Highland Elementary School in Lower Allen Twp. after arriving there to pick up her child after classes, Cumberland County Coroner Michael L. Norris said. The shooter, James Zeigler, 47, of Camp Hill, then shot himself once, Norris said.
The shootings were the culmination of a domestic dispute, authorities said.
Cumberland County District Attorney Skip Ebert said it appeared Zeigler timed his arrival at Highland Elementary moments before students were dismissed.
School security heard a brief argument and gunshots, and then the school was immediately locked down just after 3 p.m., Ebert said.
A school employee called 911. The shots were fired almost simultaneously, Ebert said.
"A witness already heard the yelling, and personnel came from outside the school," Ebert said. "The person who was on the phone said he had just gotten out front, and [the bodies] were already here. It was that quick."
Authorities did not believe any students witnessed the shooting and emphasized they were not in danger at any time.
A woman who lives across from the school said she heard the shots.
"It sounded like firecrackers, bang, bang, bang," said the woman, who asked not to be identified.
About an hour after the shooting, a woman who identified herself as Keefer's sister arrived, hysterical, demanding to be taken to the crime scene.
She broke down crying after speaking with Norris. She was accompanied by an adolescent girl who said she could see her mother's boyfriend's truck but not her mother's car.
"Is my mom OK?" she cried. "I want my mom."
She said her mother would have been at the school to pick up her sister.
The two were escorted away by police.
Before they arrived, a man who identified himself as the victim's brother was also escorted away by police.
Both relatives could be overheard telling police Zeigler had been threatening to kill Keefer. The threats had been reported to police, Keefer's sister said.
"We went to the police, and they didn't do anything," she said.
Authorities are investigating whether there was a history of violence between the couple, Ebert said.
"What we're focusing on now, from my perspective, [is] trying to work domestic violence as one of the factors that led up to this," Ebert said. "What was the relationship like? Where did the weapons come from?
"It's a shame when the coroner has to come here and deal with what's left on the ground," he said.
Norris confirmed a gun was found near the bodies.
School officials immediately locked down the elementary school and the adjacent Cedar Cliff High School and closed off Carlisle Road in front of both schools.
"They made us get on the floor and closed the windows," said 10-year-old Billy Harrison, a fourth-grader at the school, who said he was in social studies class at the time.
His sister Courtney, 14, was at the high school, where students were kept about 45 minutes before being released.
"We all kind of panicked and ran into the gym, where there are no windows," Courtney said. "It was kind of scary, especially since my brother was at the school where it happened."
Their mother, Tina Loll, who works as a computer tech aide at the high school, said the situation was "very scary."
"It brings it home," she said. "You think it can't happen to you."
Frank Williamson, public safety director for Lower Allen Twp., said students were escorted from the school using exits where they didn't have to pass the crime scene, then taken to the high school.
He said police were able to determine quickly from witnesses that no one had left the parking lot after the shots were fired.
Frantic parents showed up not knowing what had happened and fearing the worst.
"The school hasn't told me anything," said David Addams, of Letchworth Drive, while waiting for his third-grade daughter to be released.
His wife found out something happened from a neighbor who had driven past the school, he said. "It's very unnerving," he said. "I just want to know what's going on."
When the schools were locked down, students were told there had been a shooting, Ebert said.
Suzanne Tabachini, spokeswoman for the West Shore School District, said counseling was available last night at the high school and would be made available today for students and parents who were traumatized by the shootings and lockdown.
Classes are expected to resume on a normal schedule today, she said.
Authorities lauded the school district's quick reaction to the incident.

Yes, you competely and absolutely read that right. Now I know shooting happen all over the world, all the time and I am sure that they happen near schools. But not here and not near one of our schools. My daughter doesn't go to this elementary school but it is still in the same school district making it entirely to close for comfort. It is situations like this that make you want to lock your kids away from the world. Because no matter how much you protect and shelter them you can't always keep them sheltered from other people who are potentially the issue. Its sad almost. This guy killed this woman, over an apparent break up and now not only are there children without parents but it pretty muched rocked this town .... I can be sure that there are many many kids absent from that school today.

One of my favorites

Matthew Sweet: "Matthew Sweet! He completely rocks. I can remember being 15 or 16 and finding his tape (yes cassette tapes) at my local used record store... I remember cranking it in my room and eventually in my car. It was one of my favorite albums. When the tape finally stopped playing because it had been played so much I went on a search for the CD but had no luck. I am super excited that I found him on Rhapsody. He rocks!

So yesterday I took Olivia to school.. the teacher pulled me aside and told me that Olivias sandals were inappropriate for school. I wasn't really sure why since I know that I had read the handbook and was positive that it didn't say anything about sandals, only flip flops. So, I wasn't really sure how to handle it.. should I..
a) tell her that I am well aware of the school policies but I will make sure she doesn't wear them again.
b) tell her that she has no authority to tell me what my child can and can't wear to school beyond the school dress code
OR
c) run home and make olivia change, I should realize that teachers are only looking out for their children's safety

WELL, I should have gone with C because it probably would have sparred me the aggrevation. But instead sweet old pushover me went with B.. The coversation didn't immediately start out as that.. It just escalated to that. I did however tell the principal, when he was called that I would make sure that olivia did not wear them again. Although I felt that if they did not want the kids to wear sandals then they should be more specific with the dress code instructions. He told me to take it up with the school board. (yes, you are right he is not a very nice person either)

Riley has taken up singing. he is so super cute when he does it too.. His new favorite song to sing is Gone by Montgomery Gentry. I wish I could figure out how to post video on here because him singing it is the most adorable thing ever. As soon as he knows that you are watching him though he completely stops singing and gets all shy.

On another note he has been wearing his brand new firetruck underwear all day and has not peed his pants.. Right on!

Celebrity Junkie...

Ok.. So I am such a complete and udder celebrity junkie.. and tv junkie too but that is for another post. So today I was online reading Wil Wheaton's blog. ( I know I might possibly be a completely star struck crazy stalker fan by now) but truly i read it because he is fascinating.
(that might almost be like men saying they read Playboy for the articles). So anyway he has audio posts.. Thats right.. real honest to goodness audio posts where you can hear him talk.

As I re-read what I wrote I realized that I completely sounded like a teenager talking about the lastest fab in boy bands.. not a 27 year old mother of three talking about a show that now only shows as rereuns on the Sci-fi channel. But you know what I don't feel bad about it. I was and am a huge Wil Wheaton fan and if I can read his blog faithfully every day I will regardless of how dorky I might possibly seem.

I found a very very cool Blog while reading my regular gossip page Danas Dirt. On her page amidst all the very good daily gossip that I am addicted too is a little tid bit of information regarding the supposed affair of Shane Nickerson and Cameron Diaz. Well, Shane Nickerson has a blog which is a very cool read. But thats not the exciting part. The exciting part is that on his blog is a link to Wil Wheaton's Blog ! C'mon everyone knows who Wil Wheaton is.. Star Trek the Next generation. Wesley Crusher... I loved that show only because of him.. ok ok.. so I might have been in 6th grade or so but it was still very cool. It seems from my reading of Mr. Wil's blog that he is still acting and just being a cool guy. If you didn't know him from Star Trek what about Stand by Me. Also a very good, very cool old movie.

I seriously don't get weathermen at all. I know that they are only calling it the way they see it but they have to get sick and tired of being wrong all the time.. wouldn't you?

I was told by our local weatherman that it was going to rain all weekend. Not that I didn't make plans, etc because I thought it was going to rain, i was just looking forward to a very low key lay in bed kind of rainy weekend. Instead it was hot and sunny. Hot and sunny enough that I got sunburnt at our game on Saturday. Which is never fun.
The game went well though. Another loss, but we played well. A little boy on the other team dislocated his elbow, yuck.. he screamed and screamed.. I felt so bad for him

After that i spent some quality time with my mom and brother. We took the kids shopping (which is never fun). We found a ton of good sales and I suppose other then a few temper tatrums things went ok.

Sunday was pretty much low key, we did some last minute grocery shopping.. then took the kids to my moms for some much needed 'adult time' . we went down to Fisaga to eat and it was excellent as usual. Then to the Hilton for the Central Pa Friends of Jazz concert featuring David "Fathead" Newman. He was doing a triubute to Ray Charles and it was amazing. I love jazz and he was truly good. D was just happy that they had a bar.. LOL

So we have decided that the official 'family' vacation this year is going to be to Florida (thanks kim!) we are staying with a family friend and the kids are super super excited to go to Disney World. Even I am excited I haven't been there in years. I am also looking forward to going to Universal Studios which I have never been to before. They have a Nickelodeon section and a Dr. Seuss section.. I am getting excited just thinking about it. Plus I am glad that the kids are finally getting old enough to go places like that.

Hoepfully the week will be low key and drama-less...