Adventures of the 3 M's - Pilsen Edition

My goal this summer is to experience as much of our neighborhood as possible. To that end, the 3 M's embarked on an adventure today.

Heading Out...

Notice NO STROLLER for Mini Me

Blowing Bubbles near a fire hydrant

Don't ask. Just accept.

Had to get a city sticker

Of course, they sell them at the 

NASTIEST place on Earth - a Currency Exchange

How much is that doggy in the window?

Our neighborhood Library

We had so many books, 

Motor Mouth & Mini Me each had to carry 1

Healthy lunch at McDonald's

Attack of the T-Rex

I was going to head to the tortilla factory, 

but Motor Mouth (and Mommy) had full bladders.

Colossal Waste of Time

I am crocheting an adorable and unique baby blanket. When complete, it will look similar to the blanket MAM recently made for a preemie, only bigger (MAM's shown below) and blue and whiter.

This is my first attempt at a blanket. That's not the problem. I was working away but had some problems getting the yarn pulled out of the manufacturer's 'ball'. So, I took it all apart and made a ball from the other end.

 It was all good until I got to a spot close to the blanket. That's where a huge knot formed. I worked for 5 hours and whittled it down to this: 

I could have started the blanket over and almost had it finished in that time, but it is tricky to start and I wasn't with MAM, who helped me get it going. And I didn't realize how long it was taking me. Some of my blanket unravelled in the process.

Finally, I gave up and cut it. Only, I don't know how to join yarn or incorporate it in the pattern without it being super obvious or falling apart on the recipient. I'm going to take my kids for a walk to the library and maybe I will return to making the blanket. Or not. Ever. We'll see.

BEST Wedding Anniversary EVER!!

On our 6th wedding anniversary, my amazing husband surprised me with the best gift ever. 

J lured me to our Tulsa church's chapel auditorium under the pretense of helping him setup a video for AJ, the missions director. We walked in and it was almost all dark. There was a single light on a huge bouquet of roses near a projector in the room. When I saw it, my exact thoughts were: "AJ must be presenting some kind of missions award to someone. AJ's certainly getting fancy."

The screen lit up and there WE were! Finally, I realized, it was all for me. The flowers, the whole room, our video, and even the box of Kleenex J placed next to me. It was like the deBoers commercial when the husband and wife go into a movie theater and their wedding video is on the screen. I would marry him all over again.

J fulfills the dreams I never even knew I had.

WORST Wedding Anniversary!!

I didn't realize just how much I was looking forward to our wedding anniversary until I lost it in the car tonight. Our 10th wedding anniversary is on August 6th. J and I have been through so much. For all the great times, there are some really hard times that we have managed to friendship our way past. We almost didn't make it to 10. a celebration is in order.

If you read our engagement story, you know I didn't get an engagement ring. A few years back, I told J I wanted a 'big ass' ring for our 10th anniversary. I've been buying cheap rings for years, trying to figure out what I like and don't like. Last year, when J got laid off and we sold our house for less than we paid for it, I knew my ring a dream deferred.

But I still have our anniversary weekend!!

We have a tradition to pack the kids off to Grandma and Grandpa's while we spend our anniversary weekend in a hotel with great blackout curtains and sleep and catch up on movies. And sleep. 

Until this year. There is a leadership conference at our church ON OUR ANNIVERSARY and J has to work it. He is the sound and lights and video and set design guy. -*Sigh*-  If I'm lucky, I might get to do dinner with J. Let's not discuss the fact we live 8 hours drive from the closest grandparents so an anniversary weekend away is pretty slim to none.

Come back tomorrow, when I tell you about our best anniversary ever!

I dare husbands to top this one...

Smiles Everyone Smiles!!

My opinion and approach to Motor Mouth bedwetting at age 6 has changed after reading this article, written by a grown up, former bed wetter. What is my new approach?

Say nothing. Do nothing. 

Smile more.

We have tried everything we can to get our boy to stop wetting the bed. Everything. From here on out, I'm not going to talk about the bedwetting. I'm not going to show any sign of frustration at having to change sheets all the time. I'm going to do what needs to be done in secret and in silence and just pile the love on my boy.

When Motor Mouth grows up, I want him to feel like it was okay to reach his dry night milestones in his own time. I want Motor Mouth to know he was loved and supported by both of his parents and we are a safe place. So, from here on out, I'm going to smile, smile, smile!!

Facebook Sabbatical

I suspended my Facebook account and I'm going to try to stay off Facebook until Mini Me starts school. 6 weeks. It hasn't been 6 hours yet and I'm feeling lost. An aimless kind of wandering on the net. Ah, but I have Twitter and you - my blog reader. 

I have 6 weeks in which to be the best possible mother to my children. After that, I won't have my baby girl at home. Once Mini Me is in Montessori school, for 4 weeks, it will only be me and the boy, Motor Mouth. A special time for sure. How can I waste that on Facebook?

Seems I should quit Twitter too, but now's not the time to quit Twitter. Sherri Shepherd, co-host of The View, just direct messaged me today!! She said: "I like that." I am almost as excited as I was when WhittakerWoman first replied to a blog entry of mine. Ah, the joy and laughter and jumping and screaming that occurred on that blessed day.

I'm going to enjoy my freedom of speech this summer. 

And my kids.

Ahhhhhh, it feels great already.

Overnight

A few weeks ago, we drove to Tulsa with our 2 kids. At 8:00 PM, J decided we should leave at 10:00 PM and drive ALL NIGHT!! 

I thought he was insane. However, my husband was right. It was an amazing experience!! 

We didn't stop for potty breaks, breakfast, lunch, dinner, or walks around Wal-Mart. We didn't have to referee fights, divvy out snacks, replace game batteries, or bring a gazillion toys. J and I took turns driving and had a great stash of Red Bull and stay awake snacks. The only time we stopped was to gas up and for our own potty breaks.  The trip was the closest thing to Nirvana (not the band).

On the way home, we messed up. The kids had played extremely hard that day. Motor Mouth had night terrors. Mini Me was overtired and restless in her seat and whimpering most of the night. We left close to 11:30 PM. WE were over tired. 

At one point, J pulled over so we could all sleep. Then he started snoring which ticked me off so bad!! I ended up driving the majority of the night. It felt like we were never going to get home. To top it off, Motor Mouth's face started swelling (happens EVERY time we go back to Tulsa). We had to take him to the doctor as soon as we got back into town.

Would we do it again?

YES!!

Would we change anything?

Leave no later than 10 PM

Would we recommend it?

YES!!!!!!!

Finally, a Father's Day Gift that Rocks!

My husband, when being really honest, will tell you I suck at gift giving. J is the BEST at it!! This year, I know that I know that I know I got him something he wants and will love. 

This year, J is getting 'Settlers of Catan'. 

Settlers is a board game out of Germany that has a growing cult following. It has been described as a designer board game. 

We first heard of the game at one of MAM's great game nights. J fell in love with Settlers - like no other game he has ever loved. Maybe because he beat me at it (a first).  

Happy Father's Day to the most wonderful father a girl could have for her children.

I Got Fired!!!!!!!!

And that is how I came to be married.

I was bumming around, working part-time, living at my parents home, enjoying life tremendously, when this "friend" of the family hired me to work for him. Everything seemed good at first. 

Then I noticed he was having closed door meetings with a LOT of his financial investment services clients who then just suddenly invested in his laser system venture company. Coincidently, BS (those really are his initials) would have more of these meetings right before payday.

On payday, I took my check directly to the bank it was written on and cashed it. If you know me, you know I seldom carry ANY cash, much less a couple thousand in cash. But if you were one of the last employees to cash your check, it bounced! Let's just say, I beat the rush.

I was getting ready to quit very soon when on Thursday, BS came rushing at me like he was going to hit me!!  The stress of cheating his clients out of their life savings must have been eating away at him. On Sunday, I removed all of my personal stuff. He was so mean to me, I was going to quit after I put Ex-Lax in his coffee. Then notify the authorities because I knew what he was doing was wrong and had to be illegal on some level. 

On Monday, BS fired me - ummm... Let me go in the 90-day probation period. He was stumbling and stuttering over his words. He was pathetic. I asked if he wanted me to leave immediately or at the end of the day. Immediately would be best. I hopped up, trying so incredibly hard not to bust out laughing with joy, grabbed my purse from my office and walked out. I was that ready to go.

I called my mother when I got in the car. We laughed hysterically and yelled for joy together. I was able to pick up more hours at my part-time job and was not tied down to a job so I was free to go to Tulsa for my now sister-in-law's high school graduation. It was that trip J realized he couldn't live life without me and had to do all he could to own me. 

Four for Friday

FOUR FOR FRIDAY

Q1 - Pillow Talk: Over a 1/4 of UK employees are so work obsessed they can't resist using a mobile device such as a laptop in bed before they go to sleep. Do you work at night while in bed?

- I don't. J does that with his iPhone though.

Q2 - Staying Home: Do you think certain 'essential' professionals -- such as teachers, firemen, doctors & nurses -- should be barred by law from walking out and striking?

- I saw what a strike did to my friends' families financially and what it did to our city when I was a kid. I think no one should be 'allowed' to strike.

Q3 - Turning Around and Going Back: When was the last time you forgot something and had to turn back around to retrieve it? How long did it take and what was it that you forgot in the first place?

- Last week Wednesday. J forgot his wallet so I had to bring it to him. Only I forgot to take it with me, so I had to turn around and get it.

Q4 - Different Path: Assuming you had never gone into the career you are currently in, what would be doing now professionally

- Hmmm...I'm a stay@home mom right now... I guess I would be a working mom?

I found this gem HERE.

Thursday Thirteen

Here is the deal. I am mulling something over in my head. I'm not ready to blog on it, so I'm filling space with stuff I find fun (quizzes/forms) and formulating how/if I can blog about what is really bothering me right now. If you send me a private message, I could probably tell you what is bugging me, and that might help me condense it to readable form. Or not.

I found this meme interesting and fun. I found it here.

Thursday Thirteen

1. When was the last time you dreamt about someone you shouldn't have?

Last week and a few weeks before that. I been having crazy dreams about my family. Unsettling stuff.

2. What is one of your main phobias?

Bridges. Mainly, bridges crumbling when I am on them and falling into the water below. Did you know I now live in a city with upteen bridges??!!!! Talk about facing your fears daily.

3. Last time you borrowed something from a friend or neighbor and what was it?

Almost monthly for the past year = books from Mary Anne.

4. What do you put on your toast?

Butter. Mayo. Tomatoes. Salt & Pepper. Parmesan Cheese. All at the same time. Yum! Don't knock it till ya try it!

5. Last time you swore?

Tuesday, outloud. This morning, in my head.

6. You have to watch a movie 3 times in a row. What movie would you pick?

You've Got Mail.

7. Is there an author you would always buy a book from without even reading the synopsis?

Patricia Cornwell.

8. One of your most expensive items of clothing.

Trench coat. Sadly, I am still using it because it refuses to stop raining...In JUNE!! April showers bring May flowers.  June is not supposed to rain!

9. Last doctor's visit?

Last summer. I had a rash on my face that wouldn't go away. Had to go to a dermatologist.

10. Favorite Fruit?

MacIntosh Apple. My dad's pears.

11. Last time you listened to someone but thought: "Shut the f**k up!" in your head...

I'm a stay@home mom with a 3 yr old who chatters incessantly but you can't understand 70% of what she said. And a 6 yr old whom you can understand, but talks non-stop from waking to bedtime. By early evening...

12. Bubble Bath?

I take baths less than once/year. But when I do, yes, bubbles, please.

13. Last Phone Call Made

To my brother-in-law's former step-father-in-law. He's "in Chicago" which means he is in a suburb, a 60-90 minute drive away. We'll meet up when he actually comes into the city.

Consider yourself tagged. Or not.

Chicago Date Night for $12

J and I got out together, sans children, for a few hours tonight. We did it for $12 plus gas. How?

Free Babysitting

I'm part of a babysitting co-op. It's parents babysitting each other's kids for free. I had over 15 hours banked, so it was a no brainer to use a few hours for tonight. 

Savings = $35-$45

$2 Parking

Parking validated at the movie theatre for $2. Without validation, it would have been $20. 

Savings = $18

$5 Movie

Prime time, new release movie (Star Trek), at a nice, new theater. Only $5 each. We used our Kerasotes $5 movie cards that will get you in to select movies each week for $5. Normally, we would have paid $10.75 EACH. We got in for $10 total. 

Savings = $11.50

Spent = $12.00

Saved = $62.50

A Great Week!

I've been a bit busy this week. Haven't really had time to blog. One of my best friends from Oklahoma came to visit with her son. For Kai's birthday, Aubdog took him on his very first airplane ride - to Chicago!! I can't tell you how much it means to me that she chose to visit us for Kai's birthday week. Kai and Motor Mouth were best buds in Oklahoma. It was a great week!

Here are just a few of the places we managed to visit:

Aubdog at Oprah's Studios

Pritzker Auditorium

The Bean

Artwork at Millenium Park

Playing in Crown Fountain

Wrigley Field

Lego Store

Carousel at Navy Pier

Apple Store

I made Chicago Style Pancakes

Ferris Wheel, Sears Tower, 

Hancock Building, Cubs, J, Dinosaur

LegoLand

4D Theatre at LegoLand

The boys slept HARD after LegoLand

Family Matters House

Chicago Style Pizza at Lou Malnati's

2 Handsome young men

Navy Pier

Playing in Fountains outside Navy Pier

Kai's first bus ride - stood like a pro!

At the Big, Glass McDonald's

Yes or No

You are NOT ALLOWED to explain ANYTHING unless someone messages or comments you and asks. The temptation to explain some of these will be overwhelming--nothing is exactly as it seems.

Now, here's what you're supposed to do... Copy and paste this into your blog, delete my answers and type in your answers.

• • - • • - • • - • • - • • - • • - •
Kissed any one of your Facebook friends? • Yes.
Been arrested? • No
Kissed someone you didn't like? • Yes.
Slept in until 5 PM? • Yes.
Fallen asleep at work/school? • Yes.
Held a snake? • Yes
Ran a red light? • Yes.
Been suspended from school? • Yes.
Experienced love at first sight? • No
Totaled your car in an accident? • YES
Been fired from a job? • Yes
Fired somebody? • Yes
Sang karaoke? • Yes
Pointed a gun at someone? • Yes
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? • Yes
Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? • No
Caught a snowflake on your tongue? • Yes
Kissed in the rain? • Yes
Had a close brush with death • Yes
Played spin-the-bottle? • Yes
Sang in the shower? • Yes
Smoked a cigar? • Yes
Sat on a rooftop? • Yes
Smuggled something into another country? • Yes
Been pushed into a pool/ocean with all your clothes? • Yes
Broken a bone? • Yes
Skipped school? • Yes
Eaten a bug? • No
Sleepwalked? • Yes.
Walked a moonlit beach? • Yes
Rode a motorcycle? • Yes
Dumped someone? •Yes
Forgotten your anniversary? • Yes
Lied to avoid a ticket? • No
Ridden in a helicopter? • Yes
Shaved your head? • No
Played a prank on someone? • Yes
Hit a home run? • No
Felt like killing someone? • Yes.
Cross-dressed? • No.
Made your girlfriend/boyfriend cry? • Yes
Eaten snake? • No
Marched/Protested? • Yes
Had Mexican jumping beans for pets? • No
Puked on amusement ride? • No
Seriously & intentionally boycotted something? • No
Been in a band? • No
Knitted? • Yes
Been on TV? • Yes
Shot a gun? • Yes
Skinny-dipped? • Yes
Gave someone stitches? • No
Eaten a whole habenero pepper? • No
Ridden a surfboard? • No
Drank straight from a liquor bottle? • Yes
Had surgery? • Yes
Streaked? • No
Taken by ambulance to hospital? • Yes
Tripped on mushrooms? • No
Passed out when not drinking? • No
Peed on a bush? • Yes
Donated Blood? • Yes
Grabbed electric fence? • No
Eaten alligator meat? • Yes
Eaten cheesecake? • Yes
Eaten your kids' Halloween candy? • Yes
Killed an animal when not hunting? • Yes
Peed your pants in public? • Yes
Sneaked into a movie without paying? • No
Written graffiti? • No
Think about the future? • Yes
Been in handcuffs? • Yes
Believe in love? • Yes
Sleep on a certain side of the bed? • Yes

My Story

I was tagged on this by my sister-in-law, FaithChick, back in April, on Facebook. I just came across it again and thought I would cut and paste it in here because I rather enjoyed my answers. Hope you do too!!!!

My story - Finish the sentence

Hi, my name is...
WidneyWoman and I'm a Facebook and Twitteraholic

My eyes are...
where they belong. 

My status is...
married but looking.

I want to have kids...
walk on my back.

I wish I was...
sleeping instead of Facebooking.

Currently I am watching...
lightening strikes on the Sears Tower - 6 so far.

I Love...
reading but never get time to.

Never in my life have I...
been skydiving...I should have gone when I had the chance.

My favorite animal is...
a stuffed animal.

My favorite color(s) is/are...
purple.

My Pet Peeve...
anything and everything the week before my period.

Right now, I am...
wondering how shocked you are about the one above.

The one person who can drive me nuts...
is my daughter

When I'm nervous...
feel my insides trembling.

The last song I listened to...
Boom Boom Pow by Black Eyed Peas

If you were to get married today your maid of honor/best man would be...
back to the original plan - my sister but I don't think she can still fit in the dress she bought to be my maid of honor at my wedding 10 years ago that she never got to wear to my wedding because we eloped 5 days after she bought said dress...Sorry, Optimus.

My hair is...
so cute right now!! J cut it for me and I LOVE it!!!

When I was 4...
I wanted to be a stripper.

My mom is...
someone I talk to almost every day.

My dad is...
is getting better joke material now that he has internet at home.

Last Christmas was...
not quite right.

I should be...
sleeping, working, reading, crocheting, cleaning, or anything but this!!

When I look down... 
I see the bottom of my glasses.

The happiest recent event was...
my niece getting to go to Oprah.

My current annoyance is...
my 6 yr old needing to wear pull-ups at night.

The thing I want to buy is...
maybe a couple of casual dresses to run about town with the kids this summer.

If you visited the place I'm from...
and walked up the 'mountain', you would call it a mountain as well.

Most recent thing I've bought myself...
glasses.

Most recent thing someone else bought me was...
Beth gave me tea from Kenya, a tea towel from Kenya, and my fav body lotion.

If I was an animal I'd be...
a bird, so I could fly through the sky, see all there is to see from high up and dive down low and mingle around and go back up and shit on everyone's heads.

Yesterday I had...
to take Motor Mouth to school, drop J to work, meet with Cre8veChaos, go to the bank, pick up Motor Mouth, fix lunch and dinner, so work, take Motor Mouth to Awana, go shopping with J and Mini Me, pick Motor Mouth up, go to MAM's, and then hang with my husband after the kids went to bed.

Last night I was...
so tired, I kept falling asleep watching a show J wanted me to watch.

Tonight I am...
relaxing and trying not to feel guilty about it.

My favorite piece of jewelery is...
my Granny's wedding band because my Grandfather gave it to her and he loved her so much, even after over 50 years of marriage, and she loved him back so much. I know, because I used to see them hold hands and kiss. And because I was his favorite grandchild so to have this symbol of his love, is special to me.

My favorite shoes...
are my black Converse because they are so comfy and kinda hip.

I am looking forward to...
Mini Me starting this most amazing school. It is so incredible, I don't even have words to describe how incredible this style of learning is and what it will mean for my child.

The ones that know the most about me are...
my husband because he is my best friend and can you believe we've been best friends for 13 1/2 years?! I'd like to say we've been together that long, but we really were best friends for 3 years.

If my man were to bring me flowers I would want them to be...
sitting on top of a brand new Toyota Prius!

Knowing Me, Knowing You - June '09

I'm joining in on the monthly fun with The Fairy Blogmother, in her Knowing Me, Knowing You series.

1. Do you have any pets?

Nope. Going to stay that way, too. I love dogs, but I don't love vet bills. And I don't love going out 3x/day to let a dog do his thing. We had a bird a few years back and he ended up having butt cancer. Kinda turns you off birds as pets.

2. What's your favorite dessert?

Millionaire Pie. Grandma Grandma makes it for me for my birthday every year. Yum!! I also love her 'Better than anything' pie. She said it was called Better than Sex pie. I took a bite and said, 'Grandma, this pie sure does take great. But I think Grandpa's not doing something right.' She got such a kick out of that! I love my Grandma Grandma.

3. For my fellow bloggers out there - are you a stats checker?

I admit when I first started blogging I used to check every single day. I have 2 linked to this blog, actually. Now I can't remember the last time I looked at them. Every now and then, I check it to see who is following me. I tend to be really competitive, and into numbers. So I try not to make my blogging about that.

4. Do you have a gaming system?

Nope. And, after our experience with hand-held Leap Frog games, uh, never. I don't want my kids pinned to a screen all day and night. There is too much life to live.

5. What is your beverage of choice?

I looooove me some Orange Juice. I do like to mix vodka with just about anything possible. Makes it sound like I keep vodka in my home. I don't. I drink maybe 4-5x/year.

Now, head on over to The Fairy Blogmother to join in on the fun!

What is Really Going on With Me

We are in Tulsa, visiting J's grandmother. The kids call her Grandma Grandma. Grandma Grandma was diagnosed with cancer last summer. We cancelled our plans to go to England and France, so we could return to Tulsa to spend time with Grandma. I told J, "England and France will always be there, but Grandma may not be." We had a great visit last summer.

No chemo. No radiation. No surgery to remove the cancer. More recently, Grandma was on an experimental treatment, but you have to be eating to use it. She had not been able to keep anything down for over a week, which has required hospital visits for IV fluids. She had to stop the treatment. I don't know that it would have worked, but at least we had hope while she was on it.

Since arriving, we have spent many hours at Grandma's house. She has mainly been laying down in her bed. When she was dressed for the doctor yesterday, J and I were able to see how much weight she has lost. We've never seen her this skinny and frail looking.

I know we've had a full extra year with Grandma and many people don't have that luxury. But I don't want her to go. I want her to live for another 20 years. 75 is too young. I don't want to only have her in my memory. I don't want to make 'millionaire pie' and hope it's as good as Grandma's. I want Grandma to make it for because she knows it's my favorite. I want to hear her tell us how proud she is of us. I don't want to have to think, "Grandma would really be proud of us." I want my kids to spend more nights at Grandma Grandma's, watching movies. I want my kids to have experiences, not just memories. 

And what will happen to Grandpa? How will he manage alone, without Grandma? Will he marry some old filly in 6 months? Lots of widows do that, you know. Will he fade without Grandma or will he be just fine? 

Grandma is one of the sweetest, kindest, most generous people I know. I know she will be in Heaven and free from pain. She'll be with all of her family that has gone before. And I know I'll see her again one day. But for right now, I'm not ready. I'm just not ready.

A What? A Friend????

Kai Kai and his mommy, Aubdog, are flying in for a visit next week. Motor Mouth and Kai Kai were best buddies in Oklahoma, so they will be extremely happy to see each other again and spend 4 days together. Of course, I'm looking forward to seeing Aubdog again!

With Aubdog coming, it makes me think of my New Year's goal to develop deeper female relationships. Aubdog and Pinky are 2 of my closest friends in Tulsa. I give the credit of our friendship to them. They are great at being friends. Me? Not so much. 

I'm discovering myself to be rather introverted and a bit of a loner. There are lots of people I call friends, but we don't talk on the phone every day, nor do we hang out every few days or weekly. Or even monthly, really.

It's me. It's from my family of non-women frienders. The only reasons I talk to my mom and my sister almost daily is because I have their numbers memorized and I have free long-distance to Canada...and I like to get my money's worth. Of course, I love them and we laugh when we talk, but if I didn't call them, they wouldn't call me either. Mom would call weekly, I think. Optimus would never call. Which is fine, because usually when she calls, it's to tell me someone died. 

A few months ago, when my uncle passed away, my mom called. I stopped her and said that if she was calling to tell me my uncle died, she should hang up and let Optimus Prime do it. She did. That would have been like setting the eco system out of balance. Can't have that. 

I'm trying to change and become a better friend to the ladies in my life. But I'm struggling. I don't know how to do it. I don't like shopping, though I suppose I could go with them if that is what they wanted to do. I often have children in tow, and same with them, so I guess we could find kid friendly spaces. Not really one to talk on the phone, though B-Mom and I can talk for hours on the phone. *-sigh-* I'm not a good girl friend. I think I make a better girlfriend.