Around Here You Gotta Earn Christmas

One of the awesome deals I got at Wal-Mart on Black Friday was a Eureka 4-in-1 Vac for 9 bucks. It's really light weight and even though I wanted it in pink, I had to settle for the electric blue (you know the crowd and all).

Well Lael loves it! She thinks it's her personal vacuum and couldn't wait for me to crack it open. She has always tried to vacuum but it's too heavy and too tall for her. But this one fits just right, you know like the 3 bears?? Ahem. Anyway. Look at her go!

Well in my defense she did tell me last night that I was she was my best friend and my maid. I just figured I should crush a little girls dreams...

Anywhoo...after my living room was all cleaned it was time to drag the tree out of it's box.

She couldn't wait to get the ball on the tree...this has always been her favorite part, even last year when she broke a few before realizing how careful she has to be.

It's official now. Christmas is right around the corner. How about yall? Did everyone get there tree's up this weekend??

Be Glad You're Married...or at least NOT dating

So last night I got to hang out with a few girlfriends. I don't typically got out...ok I never go out so it's been a while. I partied myself out between 18-23 so once I got it out of my system I preferred to stay at home with my baby.

However, it is nice to get out every now and then and let my hair down....so to speak. I met the girls at a pool/bar place. We met at 7pm and when I got their it was really lit and there were only a handful of people in there playing pool or drinking at the bar. I thought it would be nice a low key and we would have a few drinks and lots of laugh and then I would head home.

Not. So. Much. A little while after I got settled a two guys wanted to play pool and offered to pay for a table if we would play. My one girlfriend who frequents there and came with her own pool stick jumped at the opportunity and dragged me along.

While I did grow up with a pool table in my house, I am no where near good. I mean I know rules and how to hold a stick and hit the ball but it typically doesn't make it into the hole. We played, I sucked but we won...both games. We thanked them for a fun game and as I turned to walk away the one guy grabbed me into some type of bear hug. Now I feel a need to say I knew him all of 20 minutes. Really. I don't know if that is OK now. Is that what guys do now? Has it been that long since I've been out?

I gave huggy guy a little push off of me and kind of laughed it off and headed back to my table. I was a bit grossed out but pressed on determined to enjoy my night. The two guys kind of lingered by our table but he knew better then to touch me again. When they finally set to leave he kind of leaned over me and slurred something about getting my cell phone so he could put his number in it. Ewww. I told him me and my husband shared the cell phone (harmless white lie) and that scared his ass away for good.

I was glad when they left and we had a few laughs and proceeded on with our oh so good fun. Half an hours or so passed by and this couple comes in and starts to play pool near our table. Me and the guy made eye contact once and I gave him a polite smile. In case you're wondering my polite smile is one where I don't show my teeth just a cute turn up of my mouth. Well apparently that's all he needed. He could not keep his eyes off of me. He even put his glass of beer on the shelf right beside me so he could come drink out of it every few minutes. My friends told him he was being really rude to his girlfriend but he said he didn't care and kept trying to get me to talk to him. I stopped looking at him and felt really bad for his girlfriend who obviously had gotten used to him behaving that way.

I was once more relieved when they left and live DJ had come in. I got on the floor do teach my friend a few dances. The cupid shuffle, cha-cha slide and the booty call...yes it's a dance. I was really having a great time. When I got back to our table there were a few guys around it and one was even in my chair. I had decided I was tired (from getting up at 3am to shop) and wanted to go home. Before I got my coat on I was telling my friends goodbye and then another random guy walks up to me and started playing with my hair. I thought I would lose my mind. What the hell! I pulled back and tried to ignore him and then he started rubbing his finger on my arm. I then knew it was time for me to get the hell out of there.

Overall I did have a good time but it really opened my eyes about what the dating scene has turned into. I was completely grossed out by t he way men now approach women and how when they are out with their girlfriends they are still on the prowl. So I do feel sorry for my friends who are both single. I now see how hard it can be to find a good man. Be glad yall are married or swearing off dating because if you weren't before I assure you that you would swear them off if you were out with me. :0)

Food and Shopping...My Favorite Pastimes

Uhh..I am so full. The food seems never ending! I had such a great Thanksgiving! I love my family and spending time eating and laughing all evening is such fun!

We spent this year at my in-laws and we decided to go early to beat the rush and give the girls some "relax" time with MahMah before the crowd rolled in.

Hubby took the girls in the nearby woods and arranged a treasure hunt for them while I helped out in the kitchen.

Once family started to arrive I changed the girls into their festive outfits and decided to have a mini photo shoot.

Here are the girls together:



Here is D alone:




Here they are rubbing their bellies:





Here is my Lael posing with the Poinsettias:





And here is what happens when I let a five year old handle flowers on the stairs:




Thanks hon....I couldn't spend my day without cleaning up behind you.


Here is the person responsible for our lovely dinner:



My mother-in-law Dorothy...love this lady!


Look at my girl during dinner prayer:






Lael snapped this photo of me...





Cute huh??? Or not. :o)

Well after all that eating and drinking and drinking and eating, we headed home. I got a good 3...maybe less hours of sleep and was up at 3am to shop like a crazy person.

First was the BX here on base. I got there at 3:30 with a hot cup of peppermint tea and fierce determination. They opened at 4 and 10 minutes later I was leaving with my $20 gift card and some of the delirium was starting to wear off.

Next, stop was WalMart. They opened at 5 and the line was long. No, I mean long. I had my lawn chair (hell yeah) and my tea so I was nice and ready. I only had to wait 20 minutes and this is what is looked like when the line finally started moving:






I know it's blurry because I took it with my cell but if you squint you can see the front of the line up there by the red lights. The parking lot was equipped with police and crime scene tape to prevent line butters from getting jumped by those of us that waiting in line like good little shoppers.

Once in there I quickly found the things I wanted like the Eureka 4-in-1 Vacs for $9 and the Hannah Montana dolls for $5 and the 24-piece Rubbermaid Containers for $7. The problem was I had a shopping cart and got stuck...literally.

While it only took 10 minutes for me to find what I wanted, it took me 20 to get my cart back to the front of the store to check out. Lesson learned. I refuse to use a cart again!

Overall WalMart was pretty peaceful, too bad I can't say the same for the worker who lost his life at a WalMart in NY. The shoppers literally broke the doors down and he was stampeded to death. I feel bad for his family. People...It's. Not. That. Serious.

After WalMart I went on to Target, Kohl's, KB Toys and a few other places. Compared to the last few years the crowds were fairly light.

Here's a shot from the checkout line at Kohl's.



Overall it was a good morning. I didn't get the Cupcake Maker that I was looking for but there is still time. I was done shopping by 8am and that's REALLY good for me.

Hope you all had a good turkey day and now I'm off to take the kids to a sleepover and go out with some friends. Yes. I am going out! How cool is that. Oh yeah!

Your Gonna Miss This...Moment #4

Lael has loved baths since she was a newborn. After I had her I would put her in her carrier and sit her on the bathroom floor while I soaked since I could barely stand after my C-Section.

She never seemed content sitting there watching me sit in my watery heaven. At about 2 weeks old, I finally gave in to her whining and put her in the bath with me.

At first I thought it would be too hot for her but she never like luke warm baths she like it nice and hot.

From then on, I was never able to get her out of the tub. While she has learned to take showers on her own, if I leave it up to her she'll take baths until she's 18.

I will miss this. Watching her play with her mermaids and use her many fake voices to make them talk to each other.

One day she will not take baths in my house, one day she will not need me to wash her hair, one day she will be grown and gone and I will miss this moment.

They Are Both Crazy

My husband decided he would be a helpful spouse and decided to clean the downstairs bathroom. He took everything out, cleaned the sink, the toilet and the floor. Somehow I think he lost interest.....

Yup, a day later the stuff is still sitting in the hall. Oh hell yeah I walked over it. He will finish what he started.

Check out this picture of Lael...




Is she 5 or 15? So, before bed I was catching up on Bones on my DVR. She walked in while the opening song was on and broke out into some crazy robot dance.










See what I'm sayin'....they are both crazy. I live with crazy people.

Oh, so a few more things. Heather has finally found out a date for Asher's surgery so keep her family in your prayers.

I also think I'm going to start my own little funny segment on my blog. As you all know, (yeah all 2 of yall that ready my blog) I ride the Metro everyday to work. In my 3 years of riding I've witnessed and have even been a part of some crazy stuff. So on Friday's I will give a rundown of the weirdness that happens on the Nation's Capitol Metro! I think I'll call it.... Adventures on the Train...or Metro Happenings.... I don't know. What do you all think I should call it?

Ok that's all for now! Whew, I know my mind was all over the place tonight.

Odds and Ends

The blogiverse is extra cool. I can't believe I'm just now finding out about it. Here are a few reasons for it's extra coolness.

1/Giveaways! Yeay!

Katherine is giving a buy whateva' you want coupon away for Keen products.

I found some really cute shoes I would love to get but if I win I am going to get these really adorable boots for Lael. I know, I know, always putting the babies first!

2/Awards and Kudos!

Heather of the EO wants to recognize us super fabulous moms. Yeah you! She has created this new award....

and wants to get us in on the love! Super cool Heather. You are one of the rockinest moms I know!

3/Prayer and Support

I ran into the cute blog through MckMama's Not Me! Monday (who needs our votes for an award and is so deserving and it having a few contests/giveaways/donations herself) and found that Shannon is going to have to have open heart surgery and I'm sure our words of encouragement would really make her day. Keep her in your prayers. She has small people to stick around and take care of.

Ok, so that's my top 3 reasons at least. Go check out their blogs and get to entering and praying and voting!

And just for the hell of it I decided to throw in an old picture of Lael from Gymnastics in October. Check out her bridge!

Not Me! Monday

I did not practically get pimped out by a co-worker last week. I don't get paid enough for that.

I did not do a little booty dance when I finished reading Breaking Dawn Tuesday morning. How silly would that be. BTW...BEST SERIES EVER....beside Harry Potter of course.

I did not contemplate taking off on Friday to go see Twilight instead of waiting 'till Saturday.

I did not eat a Double Cheeseburger, Medium Fry, 20oz Cherry Coke Zero, an Apple Pie and an Uncrustable PB&J all in one sitting at work because I was that stressed out. Only little Miss Piggy would do that.

I did not squeal like a 15 year old when I saw "Edward" appear on the movie screen. How weird would that be.

I did not grow the hell up and finally tell my mom that I wasn't coming over for Thanksgiving. Oh hell yeah I did!!

I did not secretly give Lael a hair trim and then hide the scissors behind my back when she tried to look at what I was doing. Only a mother scared of her daughter freakin' out would do that.

Your turn! :o)

I Do Believe in Fairies

Oh what a weekend it has been. Saturday was the usual Gymnastics at an hour no one should have to be awake after a long work week.

I couldn't wait for it to be over so that I could throw the kid inside with her dad and screech my tires down the street on my way to my date with Edward. I know, I know, I can't understand how I restrained myself from going Friday night. Twilight was great. No movie is perfect but it served it's purpose and I was thoroughly entertained. It was soooo worth it.

Yeah. Ok, enough about that.

The rest of the evening I spent home with my girl. She wanted to watch Peter Pan in her room and while I was reading all of your wonderful blogs I hear.

"I do, I do, I do believe in fairies!" And she bursts into my room looking like this:

I asked her who she was and she explained that she was Peter Pan of course! Equipped with her Princess blow dryer a.k.a. her sword. Don't even get me started on the dingle hopper (fork....those mom's who know Ariel know just what I'm talking about) in her shirt or the other "items" attached to her.

Oh how she keeps me entertained.

Today was a cleaning day. Lots of laundry and preparing for the upcoming holidays. A bit ago I had Lael clean and relax before bed. She decided she wanted to read a book. Those that don't know, me and Lael have a bit of a time with things like this. She's been doing good with her reading but has really taken me by surprise lately.

She is really improving since the beginning of the school year. I do believe in fairies! At least the ones that get my girl to read. Check her out!

Yall heard her...give her a clap. :o)

Jamaicans, Pies and Pictures

Have I told you guys about the wacky Jamaican lady? No? Ok let me enlighten you. The base has tried to cut down on cars on the road and last year they started a shuttle service that picks us up from various locations on the base and transports us to the Metro outside of the base.

This service is really great, it saves me gas and money on parking at the Metro. It runs shifts early in the morning and then picks back up around 4 in the evening. I get off of work at 4:30 and usually get to my stop in time to catch the shuttle leaving at 5.

One of the stops before mine on base is a daycare center on the Navy side of the base. Recently, this Jamaican lady that works there has started getting on the shuttle the same time I'm on.

The first time she got on I thought I would jump out of the van and start walking home. She was loud, obnoxious and her accent annoyed the hell out of me. Her perfume was so overwhelming I usually have to crack the window to stop myself for throwing up in my mouth. She had probably 6 or 7 bags with her and practically threw them on me when she got in. She started ranting and raving about her favorite desert and something about Apple Pie Ala mode, blah, blah blah.....I could have kicked myself for not charging my iPod that day.

For a few weeks after the first encounter she hadn't got on the van so I thought I was lucky and wouldn't have to deal with her again. Wrong. She has started showing up Every. Single. Day.

One day she got on the van and sang our bus driver Happy Birthday, which in any other circumstance would have been sweet but coming from her it made me grind my teeth to keep from screaming.

I started to keep my iPod on me (fully charged) and crank it up whenever she got on so that my music would drown out any hint of her being there. I don't know what is was in particular about this lady that just got right under my skin.

Well today she walks toward the van and of course I proceeded to spin the volume dial in the upward direction. She flings the door open and yells something about pie (again) and shoves a plate of Pumpkin Pie at the driver. She caught my attention so I paused the music to hear what she was going on and on about.

Apparently they were having a Military Appreciation Day at the daycare and she wanted to get everyone on the shuttle a piece of pie. She took everyone's "order" and then ran back into the building. She comes back with 4 whole pies, plates, napkins and forks. I couldn't help but to laugh.

On the way to my stop she sliced pie and started talking about vanilla ice cream and passed plates all around. I giggled to myself a bit because there really must be something wrong with this woman. But is there? Maybe I was prejudging. I'm sure everyone has done it. Maybe she is just a woman who loves children and pie and is confident enough to be herself no matter what her surrounding are. Maybe I could take a few lessons from her.

When I started to leave to get off the bus she tried to give me pie and I refused at first. I took a step off the van and then decided that I needed to open my mind and accept things the way they are. I decided to take a slice of pie...well actually two and when I really looked at the Jamaican lady and thanked her I realized that she was a really nice lady with alot of energy.

Here is what happened to the pie.

Yeah, she ate her dinner and BOTH pieces of pie. It was also an opportunity for me to try some of MckMama's camera tips. I don't know if changing my ISO made any difference. Do these look less noisy??

Yeah, not sure. I'll need lots more practice.

Phone Etiquette

Today at work I unwillingly tortured by an unproductive 1hr meeting. The meeting had nothing to do with any work that I do so I was on there verge of tears.

In an effort not to fall asleep I pretended to take notes when what I was actually doing was making a personal "to do" list. Every now and then I would give someone eye contact and then look at someone else and nod my head in agreement not really caring what I was agreeing with.

Once the meeting was over I was surprised by how many things I needed to do and I'm sure had made it on one of my previous "to do" lists that I most likely lost. A few of the necessary things to do was making a few appointments for myself and Lael.

The first appointment was for the eye clinic. I wear glasses for the computer but other than that I am frame free. Lately though, my eyes have been bothering me all the time so age just might be kicking in ya know.

Ahem. Anyway, I dialed the number and this is how the conversation went:

Her: "Hello...." (in a whispered hush)
Me: "Uh....hello?"
Her: "Hello" (in a why the hell are you calling here type of tone)
Me: "Um....yes...is this the Optometry Clinic?"
Her: "Yeah...."
Me: "Oh...ok...I was hoping I could make an eye appointment"
Her: "There are not appointments through December."
Silence while I waited for her to finish the sentence....she didn't.
Me: "Ok...can there not be appointments made after December?"
Her: "No, we can't book out further than 30 days."
Me: "Ok, well can I get an appointment at another facility or base?"
Her: "Yeah, call the number."
Silence again while I wait for her to give me the number....she didn't.
Me: "Do you happen to have the number?"
Her: Grumble Grumble something something

This is wear I proceeded to hang up on her and I'm sure she didn't notice the difference. Seriously, you would have thought I called her at home at 3 in the morning. Customer service is really becoming non-existent.

After this horrible interaction I dared to make yet another phone call to another office to make Lael an appointment and this is how that went.

Him: "Pediatric Appointments, can I help you?"
Me: "Hi, I need to make an appointment for my 5 year old."
Him: "Ok, what's his name?"
Me: "Her name is Lael."
Him: "Oh, sorry, I tried to guess."
Me: "How can you guess something like that, do I sound like I have a boy?"
Him: "Well you sound confident so I figured you had a boy."

Really?? I don't even want to know what he thought a mom of a girl sounded like. Apparently I sound confident and so Lael should be a boy...I think. But she's not. I'm pretty sure she's a girl even though when I ordered her birth certificate is had her listed as a boy. I had to call the hospital and actually argue with the lady that I indeed had been wiping the privates of a girl.
I wonder if they were in cahoots with one another. It's all a big conspiracy....

Pick Me Up'r

Sometimes I need a pick me up'r...or upper...or up 'er. I am getting fed up with my job and more often than not it puts me in a bad mood.

I don't like to be cranky at all especially around the holidays. Of course when I get home everything disappears for a while. Getting a hug and kiss from my girl always makes me feel better but after homework, dinner and bedtime it's just me and my thoughts again.

There has to be a way to change me and my negative ways of thinking. I don't have many friends but am thankful for the only one I have been able to count on.

Me and this amazing woman have only been friends a short period of time but I feel that God tested me with all the bad friends I've had so that I would recognize the good ones.

She is the only friend of mine that calls me EVERYDAY even if just for a minute and asks how I'm doing rather than running on and on about her problems. Don't get me wrong, I love to be an open ear but I think a good friend returns that favor.

In addition to her I am grateful to have met bloggy friends so quickly. I don't consider myself super funny or anything but you guys have been great as well and it gives me something to look forward to everyday. Your funny, open and honest blogs and comments just make my day.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that when I need one of those Pick Me Up'rs I have to realize that I should be thankful that I am happily married with a beautiful girl. I have a steady career and I have friends that are there beside me either down the street or on the other side of the Internet.

Thank you Dusty, whether you know it or not you have made my life and my daughters life better. Thank you bloggy friends for the things you have and will do in the future.

Your Gonna Miss This...Moment #3

Sometimes it hits me hard that Lael will not be a little girl forever. While she will always be Lael she will never be the same Lael for long. She is constantly changing and has already outgrown some of her weird quirks.


For the past few months she has started burying herself with stuffed animals ever night and by the time she falls asleep she can't be found.


By the morning she in completely in the middle of her bed. While the choice of animal may change, the ritual has stayed the same.


How long will this last? Will she grow out of it next week, next month, next year??

In other news, we had this conversation tonight.

"Mom I know what that green thing is in my snowflake."

"I don't know what is it?"

"It's the Statue of Liverbe."

She's learning alot in school, it's really amazing. Not only has she learned about the White House and Barack Obama but now she knows about the Statue of Liberty....in snow globes that is.

Check out Pam for other Gonna Miss Moments.

What Else Could Santa Possibly Bring?

Lael is a lucky lucky lucky girl. Spoiled some may call it, but I like to look at it from the standpoint that she will only be a little girl once.

Most of the things she has have been brought by others like my mom, my husbands mom and so forth.

Every year before Christmas, me and La go through her toy room and find things to give to Goodwill or other friends who's children aren't as fortunate.

Tonight we decided to tackle this:



And this, Toy Box #1, yeah.....there's more than one.

And....here is Toy Box #2. Full to the rim with stuffed animals and dress up clothes.

Obviously, Lael had more fun "cleaning" than I did. She's so silly.

Those baskets under the tv. Those are filled with books and puzzles. The ones that couldn't fit on her bookshelf in her room. Yeah, I didn't even take pictures of the toys in her room.

She's was giving mommy some lovin'. She tells me I'm the best mommy and get here everything she wants.

Getting in the Christmas spirit brings out the silliness in us. Anyone need any toys??? I have some, they are free....you sure. Ok, don't say I didn't offer.

In other news you wouldn't believe what one of my co-workers said to me today.

Ok, my job is basically a military trip planner. I book the military flights, hotel and transportation.

One of the ladies that work for a big wig in my section sent me an email that asks for me to book him on a particular type of aircraft.

This I cannot do. I can request a military plane for a certain day for a certain time and they give me what they can find. However, I do not have enough power to ask for a certain type of plane.

I give her a call and explain this to her. She sounded a little annoyed and had the nerve to say this.

"Well, I know you are friends with them over there so I was hoping you could slip them a little something."

What the HELL is that supposed to mean?? What did she have in mind? A few dollars, a peep show? I really can't tell. I was close to losing my mind but I politely got off the phone and tried to get myself together.

Seriously people, I can't make this stuff up.